The X and Its Tails 1967

This sculpture is Alexander Calder’s, The X and Its Tails. Calder, born in 1898, came of age during a period of rapid social and technological change. His sculptures often reflect this era of dynamic transformation. Calder is best known for his invention of the mobile: sculptures that move, driven by motors or air currents. This work, however, stands firmly on the ground. Fabricated from industrial materials, it appears monumental, a feat of engineering. Its stark black color and sharp lines feel severe, even masculine. Despite its visual weight, the sculpture gives an impression of lightness. Calder manages to animate what would otherwise be static and inert. The X and Its Tails invites us to consider the relationship between stability and movement, between the industrial and the organic. It suggests an emotional tension: it is both imposing and inviting. It evokes a feeling of being grounded while also suggesting the possibility of transformation.